Tlayuda

I first learned about Tlayuda while watching the Oaxaca, Mexico episode of Netflix’s Street Food: Latin America and it immediately had my full attention. It’s a giant crispy tortilla layered with refried beans, cheese, meats, and salsa. It looked like a cross between a pizza and a tostada, packed with bold Mexican flavors. Tlayuda is a beloved street food from the Oaxaca region, known for its unique combination of textures and its deeply rooted indigenous culinary heritage.

Traditionally, it’s made with a large tlayuda tortilla, refried black beans, and Oaxacan cheese, often topped with ingredients like chorizo, cecina, or tasajo. But since I don’t have access to all the authentic ingredients here, I gave it a twist using what I had and turning it into a comforting refried beans quesadilla.

It’s not quite a Tlayuda, but it’s a simple homage to the dish that inspired it, and it still carries the spirit of that episode.

1. Prepare all the ingredients needed.

• Tortilla bread
• Oil
• Refried beans
• Cumin
• Cheese
• Cilantro
• Onion
• Salsa
• Salt
• Pepper

2. Heat the refried beans.

3. Toast the tortilla bread as well.

4. Spread refried beans on the tortilla bread and add cheese.

5. Chop cilantro and onion.

6. Top quesadillas with cilantro, onion, cumin, salt and pepper.

7. Your Tlayuda is now done and ready to be served.